Page 108 of Rags to Royals

I nod. “I…” I swallow. “Just like with you, I didn’t want them calling me someone else’s name.”

That makes heat and something that looks like affection—verystrong affection—flicker through his eyes.

I take a breath. “But I didn’t even think…did you tell them about me? My name I mean? When you were…”

“In love and looking for you for almost two years?” he fills in.

My stomach swoops. “Yeah.”

“I told them about you. But I didn’t give them your name. Scarlett won’t give you away.”

“Okay.” That’s probably good.

“But the way I won’t be able to leave you alone today, probably will.”

My heart flips. “I just really wanted to see the giraffes,” I say, but my voice is stupidly breathless. And I can’t hide my smile.

“Witch,” he says softly, giving me a smile that makes my panties warmer.

Then he tucks his hands into his pockets, turns, and we start down the road. Side by side, not touching, yet I feel him—his whole presence—wrapping around me.

Chapter 23

Cian

Watching Scarlett ask Saoirse one million questions about wombats, Saoirse’s most beloved animal in the entire park, while Scarlett sits cross-legged on the ground, holding a red panda, is the final straw.

I am in love with this woman, and I need to figure out a way to make that work.

We’ve seen the entire animal park, snacked on all the special fall treats, and chatted with everyone. Henry, Saoirse, and Fiona have spent most of the day right with us and Saoirse is clearly enamored with Scarlett.

Saoirse and I also have the same taste in potato chips and action movies, so this doesn’t surprise me in the least.

It’s been an amazing day.

The park truly is decked out for fall even with the temperature being in the upper eighties. No one seems to care that it feels like summer. They are drinking hot apple cider as if there’s a crisp autumn breeze ruffling the straw poking out of thescarecrows’ sleeves and the petals of the potted mums that are everywhere I look.

Somehow they’ve even covered the ground with multicolored leaves that they clearly imported from somewhere the foliage already changes in September. Possibly northern Canada. It wouldn't surprise me.

“The air smells like apple-cinnamon right?” Henry asks. “I’m not imagining that? Or having a stroke?”

“It does,” I agree. I don’t know how they pulled that off, but the marketing director, Charlotte Landry-Foster, can do anything and I wouldn’t be surprised if she simplywilledthe aroma into being.

“You do know that you shouldn’t look at your best friend’s new girlfriend like that right?” Fiona asks from right next to me.

We’re both watching Scarlett and Saoirse.

“She’s not Henry’s new girlfriend,” I say. Henry and Scarlett filled me in on the cover story they gave Fiona.

“Okay, his weekend hook-up to try to get over the other girl.”

I frown. “Not that either. They’re just friends.”

Fiona doesn’t say anything and I look down to find her grinning up at me.

“What?” I ask.

“I know exactly who she is,” Fiona says. “Your secret’s safe with me. For now. Though I’m not sure why she’s a secret.”

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